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DSR 11
BRITAIN'S RELATIONS WITH CHINA
1.
I was grateful for your despatch on the internal
situation in China and your tentative conclusions on its
implications for the future of China's relations with the
It is the sort of background I have
needed for the decisions the Government has to take about
the future development of our relations with China.
outside world.
2.
Your despatch makes clear both how turbulent and
self-centred China has been for much of the period since
how unused the collapse of the Manchu dynasty; and
the Chinese have been to treating with the outside world
on the basis of anything approaching equality. They
will have to do much to convince the rest of the world
that the new look is the norm and not a temporary
deviation.
The leaders who have emerged since Mao's
death appear to understand that a profound transformation
of internal policies and external relationships is needed
if China is to achieve stability, prosperity and a rightful
place on the international scene. It is important
that the transformation should stick: China will be an
uncertain and difficult country to live with if it does not.
The trends that have emerged since Deng Xiaoping's return
to power are nevertheless encouraging and deserve to be
/encouraged
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